ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: jam · drill · calf · foot · fan · rush · pitcher · suit

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. suit — clothes
  3. suit — in cards
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. drill — the tool
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. drill — army training
  11. suit — to fit
  12. rush — hurry
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. drill — a practice
  21. foot — a measure
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. calf — a young animal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com